The morning sun cast a golden hue over the sprawling acres of my secluded mansion on the outskirts of Manhattan. I stood at the edge of my bedroom balcony, watching the perfectly mowed lawn stretch into the distance, flanked by motion-activated perimeter lights and discreet surveillance towers. My ten-bedroom fortress wasn't just luxurious, it was impenetrable. Built for isolation. Built for security, and my future family some day.
I rolled my shoulder, bare-chested and wearing only black joggers as i stepped back inside. The tension i felt had been building for days. Ever since the Carter's Café sighting. Ever since i saw her.
"Naomi".
I couldn't say it out loud. Not yet. Not until i was sure. Not until she stood in front of me and i could touch her again. The memory still punched through my chest like a steel spike. Mission 9X. Five years ago.
"Flashback"
It was the night before deployment. Tension crackled in the air around the secret base in California. Agents were suiting up, mentally prepping, running drills. But i had eyes only for her. Naomi. Firefox.
She was standing by the comms room, tapping into her encrypted network like nothing else mattered. I walked straight past the others and cornered her behind one of the administrative buildings, slamming a hand next to her head.
She didn't flinch.
"You know this mission's a damn mess," i growled.
"Every mission's a mess. We just survive it." She replied with sass
I didn't reply. Instead, i cupped her jaw, drew her face close, and kissed her. Hard. Desperate. Like it would be our last, unknown to me then, that it would be our last. She kissed me back, fingers tangling in my shirt. The world blurred. The danger, the protocols, the consequences, gone.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't tender. It was fire and fury and fate colliding in one volcanic kiss. When i finally pulled away, her lips were swollen, eyes stormy.
"You better come back," i murmured.
"You too, Creed."
We returned to the others as though nothing had happened. But everything had.
....Present Day...
My phone vibrated. Jason.
I answered, already moving toward my walk-in closet. "Talk."
"We're not the only ones on Priority Alpha," Jason said. "MI6 is quiet but there's chatter. Someone else is tracking the agent. I traced a separate trace signature. Could be freelance or deep cover."
I grabbed a fitted black tee and dark jeans. "I know who it is."
Jason paused. "Want me to guess?"
"No. I'm heading to Creed Tower. Call me if anything changes."
I ended the call.
Minutes later, i slid into the back of my bulletproof SUV. As the gates of the mansion creaked open, i stared at the trees blurring past.
She was alive.
I had proof. The man i'd sent to tail her had already confirmed activity. Though he lost her the day before, a new ping this morning did not reveal the block she lived in. She was damn good at evading, still had all her skills. But now i have a proximity. Soon, i'd have an address.
---
Creed Tower - 19th Floor....
Jason was already waiting with fresh intel.
"Agent was located thirty minutes ago near the abandoned docks. Our drone flagged facial recognition. He's been staying off grid. We have a fifteen-minute window."
I didn't hesitate. "Assemble six men. Light armor. No body count unless necessary. We're bringing him in alive."
The convoy was ready in ten. Black vans. Non-lethal gear. Stun cuffs. I led the team myself.
____________________
Abandoned Warehouse District - Brooklyn Docks
The scent of rust and sea rot clung to the air. They spread out. Inside one of the containers, a soft grunt echoed. A thud.
I approached the origin point, weapon drawn.
The door creaked.
She was already here.
Naomi.
Hooded. Black tactical wear. Her face slightly shadowed, but i knew. I'd always known.
She had the MI6 agent over her shoulder like he weighed nothing. His body slack. Unconscious.
I froze.
My heart slammed into my ribs. She looked like a vision and a weapon. Dangerous and divine.
"Drop him," one of my men barked, aiming.
"Lower that gun," i snapped.
My men hesitated, but obeyed.
Naomi set the body down and turned. Her eyes locked onto mine. For a second, nothing existed. No walls, no agents, no mission.
Just her.
And me.
"You going to call off your dogs or should I stun them all?" she said, voice calm and wicked.
I smirked, my voice low and rough. "You always did like the dramatics."
She stepped closer. The air between us sparked.
"So do you."
"You knew I'd come."
"I counted on it."
My eyes dragged over her. Her face. Her lips. Her curves. She smelled like gunpowder and forbidden memories. my cock was hard instantly, pulsing with want.
"He's coming with me," she said, nodding at the agent.
"He was always mine," i replied in a serious tone.
Naomi tilted her head, smirking. "Wanna fight me for him, Creed? Or are you finally smart enough to negotiate?"
My jaw clenched. God, i missed her.
"Warehouse 19. My property. Neutral ground. We interrogate him together. Then we see where this goes."
She paused. Then nodded. "Deal."
We both turned at the same time, lifting the unconscious agent like a dance we knew by heart.
My chest ached.
She was back. And this time, i wasn't letting her go.